Cigarette machine



March 23, 1937. w. F. M. EDWARDS CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet` 1 Wj 24 24a 46 24e Ic A3615 Np je@ f fl/Ja 2J f7 /y 'Xi "l 6 a f/ f 2 2 I y March 23, 1937.

CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed Nov. V'7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w. F, M. EDWARDS` 074,783

March 23, 1937.l w. F, M. EDWARDS 4` 2,074,783

CIGARETTE MACHINE Filed Nov. 7, 1934 s sheets-sheet s V71, WILLIAM FM. EDWARDS Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT oF'FicE CIGARETTE MACHINE William Frederick Maitland Edwards, London,

England, assigner to Filter Tips Limited, London, England, a British company Application November 7, 1934, Serial No. 751,952 In Great Britain November 9, 1933 9 Claims.

` This invention relates to cigarettes and is concerned with improvements in apparatus for the manufacture on the continuous rod principle of cigarettes having filtering insertions or tubes at the mouthpiece end or at an intermediate position or of cigarettes having hollow mouthpieces into which filter tipsor like insertions may be subsequently applied. l

According to the present invention the iml0 proved' apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes ofthe kind referredto comprises means for severing a continuous tobacco filling into lengths, reciprocatable gripping means adapted to engage the cut lengths successively and move the same bodily forward to provide intermediate spaces between the lengths. and `paper tube-forming means arranged so that the spaced lengths are delivered onto the paper strip and enclosed therein. lThe cutting means preferably is reciprocatable so that the continuous tobacco lling may be severed without interruption of its continuous forward movement.

The invention furthermore includes apparatus comprising means forgripping the continuously moving filling while it is cut into lengths, said gripping means being adapted toreflect accelerated forward movement of the cut lengths to form spaces therebetween and means for applying a continuous paper strip so asto form a tube enclosing the spaced lengths of filling. Pairs of grippers may be arranged to engage the filling at both sides of the cutting means. Any suitable means may be provided for applying intermediate filtering or other insertions into the spaces between thef lengtlfisl before the continuous tube is iormedtherearound. l

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure l isa sectional endelevation illustrating one construction of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 isa View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating. the manner in which the grppers engage the lling;

Fig; 3 is apart sectional side elevation corresponding to Fig..2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. fillustratingA the manner in. which the space is formed by advancing the cut-off length. of, filling.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational. view of the mechanism for shifting the carriages.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View of the connection between shaft I1 and its driving mechanism.

(CI. ISI- 43) Fig. 8 is a sectional. view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 7.

In carrying the invention into effect, the tobacco filling I, preferably while moving along a trough-like guide 2c upon an endless band 2, 5 is operated on by reciprocatable gripping devices comprising pairs of jaws I3, I4 and I5, I6 adapted and operated so as to be capable of insertion between the tobacco filling and the band.

The jaws I3, I4 and I5, I6are carried respec- 10 tively by arms I3a, I4a andv I5a, I6a which are connected by links |319, I4b and I5b, I6b respectively to pivots of rollers .I3c, I5c,A the pivots connecting the pairs of arms and links being adaptedfor engagement by tension springs I3d, l5 I5d respectively. Thearms I3a, I4a are pivoted onv a spindle I1` and the arms I5a, I6a on a spindle I8, such spindles. I1, I8 being carried' respectively by 'carriages I9, ZIJ slidable on parallel rods 2| and operated through rods 22, 23` by 20 suitable cam .mechanisnm As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, rods 22 and 23 are connected by links 30 and 3 I with levers 32 and 33, respectively. Levers 32 and 33 are provided with rollers 34 and 35, which engage cams 36A and 31, which serve to 25 rock levers 32 and 33 about fulcrum 33. Cams 36 and 31 are. rotated by a shaft 39, which is driven by a source of power (not shown). It will be noted thatcams 36 and 31. are constructed to impart an acceleration to the movement of rod 22 30 relative to rod 23 as the two rods are being shifted. `The specific form of means for imparting acceleration tothe movement of rod 22 rela.- tive to rod` 23 as the two rods are being shifted is not a novel: feature in this case, the same` be- 35 ing -`merely a conventional form of such accelerating means. A. lever 24 having a lateral extension` 24d cop-operating with the rollers I3c, I5c is pivoted.at 24o 4and is provided at its rear end with a roller 24h engaging with a 4o bar 25 which is adapted to be raised and lowered through suitable cam mechanism. A rotatable cutter'v 26 is mounted on the spindle I`1` which is rotated by suitable mechanism through a telescopic connection.` ForV instance, 45 shaft I1 may be squared as shown at I1' and passed through a square opening 40 in a spindle 4I on which a gear 42 is mounted. Spindle 4I is carried in a stationary bearing 43 and as the carriage I9 is shifted the shaft I1 slides through 50 the. opening in spindle 4I.

At the commencement of the forward movement of the carriages I9, 2G the latter move in unison and by upward movement of the bar 25 the jaws I3, I4 and I5, I6 are caused to close 55 together, as illustrated in Figure 2, so as to engage the filling and subject the same to compression, the jaws also preferably acting to lift the filling from the paper strip or band while the cutter 26 severs the filling. After the cutting operation the forward movement of the carriage I9 is accelerated so as to carry the cut length of filling bodily forward without exerting an axial compression thereon, thereby forming a space,

as illustrated in Figure 4. The bar 25 is then lowered so as to permit the jaws to open out into the position shown in Figure 1 in which the filling is released. The carriages I9, 20 then return to the initial position. 'I'he cutter 26 may be operated in such manner that after the cutting operation it remains in engagement behind the cut length of filling. Alternatively, movement of the cut length of filling may be effected by a separate blade after the jaws I3, I4 have been actuated to release the cut length.

In a further modification the gripping jaws I5,

I6 may be dispensed with, in which case the cutter or a separate blade may be adapted to remain in engagement with the cut end of the continuous filling While the cut length is moved forward as before described. The paper strip (not shown) moves at a constant speed which is suitably greater than the speed of feed of the continuous filling and is guided over a roller so as to receive the filling at any suitable position in relation to the cutting and space forming means. l The insertions may be applied in the spaces before the paper strip is formed into a continuous tube or the paper strip may be wrapped around the spaced lengths of filling and subsequently cut off to provide cigarettes having hollow mouthpieces into which insertions may be applied subsequently.

The invention is applicable for the production of cigarettes having any desired form of tip or mouthpiece or intermediate insertion. If desired, the insertions may be in the form of wads or tufts of cottonwool or similar material, or may consist wholly or in part of tobacco, in which case cigarettes containing tobacco of two different kinds or characteristics may be readily produced.

The invention is also applicable for producing composite cigarettes having an insertion at an intermediate position in the length of the cigarette.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments hereinbefore described. For instance, although it is preferred to effect the formation of the spaces between the lengths of filling without interrupting the continuous forward movement thereof, the continuous feed movement of the filling may be interrupted while the cutting and/or spaceforrriing operations are carried out.

What I claim is:-

l. Apparatus for producing cigarettes of the kind referred to, comprising means for severing a continuous tobacco lling into lengths, and reciprocatable gripping means ad'apted to engage the cut lengths and to move the same bodily forward to provide intermediate spaces between the lengths.

2. Apparatus for producing cigarettes of the kind referred to, comprising means for gripping a continuously moving tobacco filling while it is cut into lengths, and means for shifting said the forward gripping means to effect accelerated forward movement of the cut lengths to form spaces therebetween.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein pairs of grippers are arranged to engage the filling at both sides of the cutting means.

4. In a machine of the character described, a trough for supporting a moving rod of tobacco filling for cigarettes, a cutter for severing said filling into lengths, means for reciprocating said cutter to cause it to move with said filling during' the severing operation, and gripping means adapted to move the cut length of filling in advance of the moving rod to provide a space between the cut length and moving rod.

5. In a cigarette machine, a trough for supporting a moving rod of tobacco filling for cigarettes, a carriage reciprocable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said rod, a cutter mounted on said carriage, means for operating'said cutter 'to sever a length from said rod while the carriage is moving with said rod, and means for accelerating the movement of said severed length to provide a space between the same and said'rod.

6. In a cigarette machine, a movable troughlike member for supporting a moving rod of tobacco filling for cigarettes, a carriage reciprocable' in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said rod, a cutter mounted on said carriage, means for operating said cutterto sever a length from said rod while the carriage is moving with said rod-and means for accelerating the movement of said severed length to provide a space vbetween the same and said rod.

7. Inv a cigarette machine, a trough for supporting a moving rod of tobacco filling for cigarettes, a carriage reciprocable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said rod, a cutter mounted on said carriage, means for operating said cutter to sever a length from said rod while the carriage is moving with said rod, and gripping means for accelerating the movement of said severed length to provide a space between the same and said rod.

8. In a cigarette machine, a movable member" for supporting a rmoving rod of tobacco filling for cigarettes, a carriage reciprocable in a direction pai-'allel to the direction of movement of said rod, means on said carriage for liftinga portion of said rod from the moving member, means for severing the lifted portion of the rod, and means for shifting said severed portion of said rod in advance of the remainder of the rod to provide a space therebetween 9. In a cigarette machine,.a movable member for supporting a moving rod of tobacco lling for cigarettes. a carriage reciprocable in a direction parallel tothe direction of movement of said rod, means on said carriage for lifting a portion of said rod from the moving member, a second carriage reciprocable with and relative to the aforementioned carriage, a cutter carried by said second carriage, means for operating said cutter to sever a length of rod from said lifted portion thereof, means on said second carriage for gripping the severed length of rod, and means for shifting said second carriage relative to the first carriage to move the severed length in advance of the moving rod to provide a space therebetween.

WILLIAM FREDERICK MAITLAND EDWARDS. 

